Improvement in water-guns for extinguishing fires



H. STRAIT.

Mumie-Loading Ordnance.

Patented Feb. 24, 1852.

N PEms. PMOTOMTHOGHAPHER. WASHING Nrrnn STATES UATENT Tirion..

HIB-AM STRAIT, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 8,762, dated February 24, 1852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HIRAM STRAIT, of Covington, Kenton county, Kentucky, have invented a new and useful gun, called from its use the Fire-Gum which is for throwing water or other fluids on res to extinguish them by using gunp owder, gun-cotton, Xyloidine, or any other explosive materials as the projectile powers; and lhereby declare that the following is a full and definite description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and their'letters of reference.

The fire-gun consists, essentially, of the following parts, which are shown in the drawings by the initials of their names, to wit: M

stands for the muzzle; B, the breech; P C, the

powder-chambers5 W C,' the water-chamber; F, the iiange; C, the cap, G, the guard, andl` T the trunnions.

The ilange F, Figures` 1, 2, G, and 11, is a raised metallic collar, rim, or ring surrounding the muzzle on the outside, for the purpose of strengthening it and fastening the cap against by pressure, so as to be watertight, by means of a guard. It may be riveted or cast on. Vhen a guard with horizontal arms HA, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 10, is used, corresponding cross -grooves, O G, Fig. 6, and beveled shouldersBF, Figs. l, G, and ll, must be made 'on the iiange to introduce them, so as to turn partially and fasten.

When a guard with vertical arms V A, Figs. 7 and S, is used, corresponding horizontal arms, F A, Fig. 8, must be riveted to the flange, and project so as to intersect with them and fasten. Vhen the guard is hinged to the flange, Fig. 9, H H, and fastened by spring-catches or otherwise, or when strings, cords, belts, or annealed wires are used as a guard to fasten the cap C, Fig. 15, no cross-grooves, horizontal or vertical arms, or beveled shoulders are needed. A wedgeshaped or concave groove may be made all round either the face of the iiange or guard where they join, for receiving a fastening in a Wedgeshaped or cylindrical collar or ring of india-rubber or some other elastic substance, so as to make their junction water-tight and allow the easier escape of the cap when the powder is ired.

The cap C, Figs. l, 2 and l5, is a circular cover, sheet, or piece of cloth, leather, paper, lindia-rubber, gutta-percha, or some othersuitable material `as large or a little larger than the flange or guard, and sufficiently waterproof and strong to confine the water or other iiuids in the water-chamber, so that they can be iired in any direction without leakage or escape when its edges are fastened between the Iiange and its guard, or by strings, twines, belts, or annealed wires. The cap may also be made of very thin metallic sheets. When the powder is fired, the cap either burstsand lets the water or other fluids through it, -or it is blown away entire with them. The use of the cap is to coniine the water or other fluids temporarily, so that they can be aimed and fired in any direction whatever, whether vertical, horizontal, or inclined.

The guard G, Figs. l, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9, is a circular metallic collar, rim, or ring of the size of the iiange, and its ofliceis to conne the cap water-tight to it by pressure at their junction. It may be fastened to the ange by means o'f horizontal arms H A, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 10, by vertical arms V A, Figs. 7 and 8; by a hinge and catches, H H, Fig. 9, or by twines, cords, belts, annealed wires, or thumbscrews working through the guard and screwing into the face of the flange. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show a guard with horizontal arms in different positions, Fig. 10 its cross-section through one of its arms, and Fig. l as fastened on the ange. Fig. 7 shows a guard with vertical arms, and Fig. 8 one of the horizontal arms of the iiange, into whichn'they fasten at their intersection. V A, Fig. S, is a cross-section of oneof the vertical arms to show its bevel. K, Fig. l0, shows a catch on a horizontal arm of a guard, as also Figs. 4 and 5. Guards with either horizontal or vertical arms are fastened,

like screws, by turning them partially round. y

A guard with horizontal armsvhas them first introduced through the cross-grooves OLG, Fig. 6, and is then turned round until theacatches K, Figs. 4, 5, and 10, fasten over the beveled shoulders B F, Figs. 6 and ll, of the iiange. A

`guard with vertical arms fastens in horizontal ones projecting from the flange sufficiently for catches K, Fig. S, at their intersection. Ilhe arms and catches are slightly beveled on the outside, so as to tighten as they turn together. Vhen the guard is hinged, H H, Fig. 9, and made to open, shut, and fasten over the muzzle, like an open watch-case over its face, the cap yis fastened by its interposed edges between them. Twi nes, cords, belts, or annealed wires coiled orwrapped on the edges of the cap, and fastened by any means either on the flange or the muzzle without a flange, act the part and place of guards in confining the cap and contents of the fire-gun.

The fire gun can be made like other cast or wrought guns as new done, or, in order to combine great strength, safety, and lightness, the barrel may bemade of a sheet of iron, copper, or brass of the shape, size, and thickness wanted, coiled or rolled several times round, so as to be either in the form of a hollow cone or cylinder. The edges both on the in and out side are to be secured by bein gvwell brazed or soldered. To still further secure and strengthen this coiled barrel, it can be entirely or partially hoopcd from the breech to the muzzle, and riveted where the edges overlap or is otherwise required. Instead of the sheet being entire,it may consist of cross or longitudinal sections, brazed or soldered where their edges are joined,or riveted where overlapped. Toform the sheet, whether entire or in sections, into a coiled barrel, a cylindrical or conical wooden core or spindle of the intended size and bore of the gun wanted is first to be l turned, and then this sheet is to be gradually and closely coiled and fitted round it as many times as intended, and then be secured from uncoiling, when the core may be withdrawn and the breech, trunnion-ring, and flange cast on it in their places. The number and thickness ofthe coils or sheets must be proportioned to the intended power of the gun. XVhen the barrel is coiled and mounted with its breech, flange, and trunnions, it can bev turned in a lathe and finished. The flange and trunnions may be wrought, riveted on, and plated. The guard may be cast or wrought and plated. The breech cast on the barrel should extend entirely over the powder-chamber and partially over the water-chamber, both on the in and out side,to strengthen it,and that part of the cast breech on the outside may be supplied by additional and shorter coils secured to those which form the barrel itself. The rivets,when used,may be countersunk or not, and the bore of the fire-gun may be uniform throughout, Fig. 13, or uniformly expanding from the breech to the muzzle, Fig. 12, or its powder-chamber may be more or less contracted and beveled and its water-chamber more or less expanded and beveled Fig. 2. The water-ehamber may be oiled or lubricated when used or not. The primer is a tubular screw of a uniform size, or nearly so, with a thread for securing it in the touch-hole of the gun, so as to form a sure communication between the priming and charge. On the outside it may terminate in a nipple for percussion-caps, or have a covered priming-pan screwed to it. On the inside of the breech it may terminate in a lancet-point, (its wings being in line with the bore,) or a lancet-head may be screwed to it. It may also terminate in a gimlet-point and screw down into the l cartridge. I f the head is a part of the primer y der.

itself, it must be screwed into the touch-hole from the inside of the breech, and the hole must be a little in advance of the breech itself to give it room to be turned. The office of the primer outside is to hold the priming so as to keep it dry, and on the inside to cut and penetrate the cartridge as it is forced into the powder-chamber, so to bring the powder and priming into immediate communication for firing. The trunnions T T, Figs. l and 2, are to be so attached to the barrel that the breech, when the gun is loaded, will be a little the heaviest, so that of itself it will stand vertical and easy of direction to any point wanted. The water or other fluids for projection on lires may not only be but contain freezing incombustible and even combustible materials dissolved or suspended in them. When combustibles are used, it is for the extinguishing gases they will immediately generate when thrown on the fire so as to burn. y

The fire-gun, Fig. 1, and horizontal section, Fig.2,forloading, is first thrown into a vertical position on its trunnions T T. The powder, either loose or in paper, cloth, leather, or other water-proof cartridges, is first introduced into the powder chamber P O and against the lancet head or point of the primer, followed by water-proof wadding in sufficiency to entirely exclude the water or other fluids from the powder. A strong,light,thin and circular piece of 'wood or metal, near the size of the bore where it is to be placed, may be introduced either in or under the wadding to act as a kind of piston-head to force the wat-er or other fluids out as much in a body as possible. The water or other fluids are next poured into the water-chamber until it is perfectly full. The cap is then placed smoothly over the muzzle and flange, and the guard over the edges of the cap turned and fastened `s0 as to be water-tight. The priming can now be put in its pan by leveling the gun, or it might have been put in before the powderchamber was loaded. The fire-gun is now ready for direction and firing. It can be fired by any of the means now in use for firing pow- The explosion is intended to burst or blow the cap away and scatter the water or other fluids expansively and powerfully on the fire to extinguish it. Small fire-guns may be made to use by hand, and large ones to be carried, mounted, and fired on carriages or portable firing-rests.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the liregun with the breech, cap, flange, guard, and trunnions attached. Fig. 2 is its horizontal section. Figs.. 3, 4., and 5 show a guard with horizontal arms in different positions. Fig. .6 shows the flange by itself. Fig. 7 shows a guard with vertical arms, and Fig. 8 aflangearm, and VA a cross-section of one of the vertical arms, and K the catch in which it fastens. Fig. 9 shows a guard as hinged to the flange ormuzzle and fastened by catches or y otherwise. Fig. 10 shows a cross-section of a .guard .with horizontal arms through. one of chamber as more or them. Fig. 11 shows one of the'b'eveled shouldels and sectionsof the ange. Fig, 12 shows the bore as uniformly expanded and beveled from the breech tothe muzzle7 Fig. 13 as uni`- form throughout, and Fig. 2 the powderless contracted and bev-I eled and the water-chmnber as more or less expanded and beveled. 1 Fig. 14 shows the primer, L itsv cover or lid, IPits priming-pan, and Hd and Pt its laucet head or point. S shows its seme', and Ss its cross-section. Fig. 15 show the cap.

Vhat I claim as of my own invention in the 

